Page 4 B.C. LUMBER WORKER “Parliament Cor Dunces” RITISH historians record some very descriptive titles which the public attached to bygone Parliaments in Great Britain. These epithets were such as: the Addled Parliament, the Devil’s Parliament, the Mad Parliament, the Mongrel Parliament, the Useless Parliament, the Par- liament of Bats, the Parliament of Dunces, or the Rump Parliament. These apt titles for infamous aggregations of law- makers are quoted here as suggesting some suitable description of the Parliament in this province which now prorogues. The language of the average man on the street when he speaks of the recent session of the B.C. Legis- lature js even less-polite. The contempt in which he holds the actions of the Legislature on important issues is an unwholesome result of political double-dealing under a too thin veneer of political bunkum. The Coalition politicians dug their own pitfall when they forgot that people hate to be “double-crossed”. The word “double-cross” is not too harsh a description of the broken promises regarding Hospital Insurance. At considerable sacrifice the people of this province invested heavily with their insurance contributions on the strength of Coalition promises. They now feel that they have been tricked. Legislation of vital importance to the prosperity of the province, was introduced late in the session, with evidence of hastily improvised compromises resulting from conflict behind the scenes between warring factions in the Cabinet. : In the closing hours of the session complicated changes in the system of voting were introduced, for the obvious purpose of enabling one of the two parties in the Coalition either to gain a majority or cling to and revamp the Coalition. Here again the electors were not consulted about the system of voting preferred by them. For the most part, legislative acts of this session form a long chapter of grievances for the general public, be- cause of the arrogant and callous manner in which the Coalition Cabinet disregarded public opinion and public welfare, - Organized labor, which “carried the ball” in expressing public indignation has its special grievances, in addition to the general discontent over Hospital Insurance charges. Long over-due amendments to the ICA Act were shelved, although labor bodies had united to present con- vincing evidence against official interference with trade union rights. The stalling tactic was employed of promising further enquiry into matters already exhaustively investi- gated. Almost everyone but the Government agrees that in- jured workmen relying on the provisions of the Workmen’s Compensation Act require increased compensation as has been granted in other province. Widows and orphans, especially, should be extended additional allowances with- out delay, as a means of escape from unendurable poverty. The joint committee representing all the trade unions in the province concentrated its efforts on the major re- quirements already mentioned, in the hope that the ~urgency of the situation would win the favorable attention of the Coalition Government. Once more they under- estimated the competency of a government... and the worth of its promises. The trade unions of the province took aggressive poli- tical action in the form hitherto approved by trade union membership, and which has always been recommended by the old party politicians. The politicians are naturally in favor of the old style trade union political action. At election time they are able to promise the workers everything on the political agenda, in the full knowledge that later they cannot be held responsible for fulfillment of such promises. The real political deals are made in the back room with the employers who furnish the campaign funds. The poli- tical bargains so made are usually kept, despite the pro- tests of the outraged workers, who are left “on the outside looking in”. ‘ The united action of the trade unions with regard to the Hospital Insurance petition received public commen- dation. While immediate results are not apparent, the long range results may indicate that the Coalition has Jearned to respect organized labor’s influence. It remains to be seen whether greater consideration will be shown labor’s demands. Active participation in the protest by thousands of workers has thus brought their political thinking into focus, and at the same time has strengthened their position. The ranks of organized labor have been stirred to the realization that a new style program of political action must be developed. Whatever course is taken, the end result must be the election of representatives. who acknowledge their responsibility to the workers and are free from political bargains which tie their hands in this. Organized labor must interest itself in the election of public representatives, pledged to serve only the public good, and who can be held responsible to their supporters for the enactment of the principles upon which they are elected. Labor must have a more direct share in shaping poli- tical decisions upon which the solution of its problems now depend. By resolution, the 1951 B.C. District Convention of the IWA instructed that material be published in the columns of the B.C. LUMBER WORKER designed to inform IWA mem- bers on the subject of political action. Accordingly, this pub- "THE process, called the In- dustrial Revolution, which transformed England from an agricultural country, to the “workshop of the world” gave birth to the Labor Movement. Out of the struggle of the British workers to organize, and overcome the evils of wage exploitation under the new in- dustrialism from 1789 onwards, grew the conception that the Labor Movement of Britain is comprised of three organiza- tions—the trade unions, the co-operative societies, and the British Labor Party. These arose out of a common need, they depend upon one and the same class, whose ideas and aspirations they seek to express from their different standpoints, Early Beginnings The first phase of working- class organization in Britain, 1789-1848, was one of revolt against the oppression of the capitalists as well as the land- owners in command of Parlia- ment. Uprisings were frequent, organizations sprung into being and collapsed under naked and cruel persecution, One early indication of interest in political matters, was the working class agitation which re- sulted in the Reform Bill of 1832. The workers who won the victory were tricked by the authorities for manual workers were denied the franchise, and the middle class was more firmly entrenched in political as well as economic power. Chartist Movement Working-class political agita- tion revived in 1837, and led to the calling of the Chartist Con- vention in 1888. The Chartist movement was fundamentally an economic movement with a purely political program, and aimed at parliamentary reform. (To Be Continued) Earliest Political Action lication has pursued the policy of reporting factually on poli- tical decisions which directly affect organized labor. In addition, it is now pro- posed to publish a series of brief articles summarizing the historical development of poli- e) tical action in this and other countries, The lessons of the past have a bearing on decisions to be made in the future. This issue commences a discussion of political action as it developed in Great Britain, — (Editorial Board). 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